Puzzle having pieces shiftable by sliding along a track



Sept. 15, 1964 l. H. STEINHARDT PUZZLE HAVING PIECES SHIFTABLE BY SLIDING ALONG A TRACK Filed May 22, 1961 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR flew/vs HARTLE irzwwear ATTO R N EY United States Patent 3,14s,ss4 PUZZLE HAVING PIECES SHIFTABLE BY SLIDING ALONG A TRACK Irving Hartley Steinhardt, 1 Merritt Road, Farmingdale, N.Y. Filed May 22, 1961, Ser. No. 111,598 13 Claims. (Cl. 273-132) This invention relates to puzzles.

It is an object of the invention to provide a structure into which is built a puzzle involving a plurality of paths along which members, which may be referred to as men, may be moved in order to dispose the men in a determined relationship, or solution, of the puzzle, wherein the paths are defined by passages which provide obstacles wihch must be overcome in order to produce the solution. The paths are plural in number. One path intersects other paths in such a manner that men disposed on the intersecting path may, as the attempt to solve proceeds, assume positions where the man, so disposed, will prevent free movement of other men toward reaching the desired sequence for the solution. Such intersecting path is constructed to limit the number of ment which may be disposed thereon to not more than two men. When two men are disposed on such intersecting path, movement of men in the other passages is prevented. The total number of men cooperating in the puzzle, when disposed, side against side in, and the total length of, the passages other than the intersecting passage, will leave a free space sufiicient for another man only, and no more.

The invention has been applied to an arrangement in which two equal length passages meet and join with each other at the ends of an intersecting passage. In such case, each of the two passages is of a length to receive an odd number of men, the intersecting passage is of a length to receive a single man, and there is then insufiicient free space to permit another man to be positioned at each end of the intersecting passage.

The invention is disclosed in a form wherein the passages are angular, thus providing corners past which the men must move. Furthermore, the device is shown as having a number of grooves to receive and guide spindles extending from the men into the grooves. The effect is as if the men themselves were moving in passages having walls closely confining the bodies of the men themselves since the external dimensions of the men are such that they come into collision with each other and restrict movement of related neighboring men past each other.

In order to produce the effects desired, the puzzle may consist of passages of various lengths, but it is implicit in the organization that there should be two passages of equal length leading off from the ends of an intersecting passage, and that each of the two passages of equal length shall be able to retain only the same odd number of men in each case, so that the total number of men within the passages will be twice this odd number, with the addition of one single man. In other words, the number of men may be defined as one plus twice a certain odd number, that number being determined by the length of the two equal length passages. An additional space is left over when all of the men are in the equal length passages, and that space is sufficient for just one more man, with a slight allowance for play, with no men at that time on the intersecting passage. In such case, the men are capable of circulating, that is, of being moved in a circuit from passage to passage, in a certain manner so that certain steps are necessary in order to produce a solution, that is, to dispose the men in some desired sequence, as, for instance, a numerical sequence.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth hereinafter, or will be apparent from the description and the drawings, in which are illustrated embodiments exemplifying the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction, or any particular arrangement of parts, or any particular application of any such construction or arrangement of parts, or any specific method of operation or use, or any of the various details thereof, even where specifically shown and described herein, as the same may be modified in various particulars, or may be applied in many varied relations, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, of which the exemplifying embodiments, herein shown and described, are intended only to be illustrative, and only for the purpose of complying with the requirements of the Statutes for disclosure of an operative embodiment, but not to show all the various forms and modi fications in which the invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout, and in which are disclosed such practical constructions,

FIG. 1 is an exploded view, showing the two plates to be assembled to produce the member by which the game is to be played, the two plates, when properly assembled, defining the desired passages for the functioning of the invention, the top plate being shown upside down to disclose its interior construction, and the wall members being shown assembled with the bottom plate;

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the game member when its parts are assembled, all of the men but one and a gate for the passages being shown separated and removed from their association with the game member, illustrating the relative dimensions of the men, one of the wall members and one of the men being shown broken away;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the game member as it appears when the parts, the men and the gate are properly assembled and are set up for play;

FIG. 3A is a plan view, similar to FIG. 3, but of a slightly modified form of the game member as set up for play in a different dimension;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view, substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and to enlarged scale, illustrating the manner in which the passages are formed by the assembly of the parts of the game member, and the manner in which the men are associated with the passages;

FIG. 5 is a detail cross-sectional view, substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, and to enlarged scale, of the relation of the parts of the gate construction; and

FIG. 6 is a detail cross-sectional view, substantially on the line 6--6 of FIG. 3, illustrating further constructional detail of the gate.

As shown on the drawings, the game is made up to include a pair of plates 10 and 12 which may be made in any suitable manner; for instance, each may be molded separately from a plastic material. Plate 16 (FIG. 4) may be made to comprise a relatively thin single thickness 14, which may be molded to provide a circumferential wall 16 extending perpendicularly from the single thickness at the very edges 18. A boundary projection 19 from top face 21 coincides in planar disposition with wall 16. The plate may be interrupted by an opening 20, the opening being bounded by edges 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32. Edges 22 and 32 may terminate at a slot 34. Slot 34 is formed to communicate with a cut-out 36 in a section 38 of wall 16.

Plate 12 likewise may be formed of a single thickness 40. From top face 42 of thickness 40 a plurality of ribs 44, 46, 48, 5t}, 52, 54, 56 and 58 may extend upwardly. Ribs 44 and 46 may form a single wall with which ribs 48 and 5t) intersect. Ribs 48 and 50 also may intersect ribs 52 and 54. Other ribs 56 and 58 may extend away from ribs 52 and 54 to provide a passage 60 between them.

Plates 10 and 12 are assembled by seating ribs 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56 and 53 within the enclosure defined by wall 16. The plates thus form a unit. By applying a suitable medium to faces 61 of the ribs, the two plates may be bonded together. The medium may, in this particular case, be acetone, or the like, to cause the two plastic surfaces to bond together substantially.

A pair of members 62 (FIGS. 1 and 4) may be formed in any desired manner, as, for instance, by molding from plastic. The members are shown here as equilateral trapezoidal in shape, although other forms may be found suitable for the purposes here. Each member may be formed with a wall 64 bounding a recess 66. Extending upwardly from face 42 are a pair of protuberances 68. The projection of these protuberances above face 42 may be slight, but sufficient to provide something substantial to cooperate with the respectice recess 66. Wall 64, on the other hand, is of such height that when wall 64 is positioned with relation to a protuberance so that recess 66 is received over and Wall 64 then surrounds the protuberance 68, with the free face of wall 64 in engagement with face 42, top face 70 of member 62 will be substantially in the same plane as top face 21 of plate 10 when plates 10 and 12 have been assembled.

Thus, when members 62 are seated upon protuberances 68 by nesting recess 66 around those protuberances, members 62 are disposed so that the small length edge 74 of each member will be in opposition, while the long edges 75 will be disposed away from each other. Members 62 may be bonded to face 42 in this position in any suitable manner, as, for instance, in the usual manner of cementing plastic pieces together.

After members 62 have been assembled, plates 10 and 12 are assembled. The boundaries of plate 12 are such that it will sit snugly within wall 16. In such case, ribs 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58 will serve as rests for the bottom face 76 of the single thickness of plate 10. Ribs 44, 46, 48, t), 52, 54, 56 and 58 may be bonded to bottom face 76 in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by cementing in the usual manner.

Now the disposition of members 62 with relation to edges 22, 24, 26, 23, 30 and 32 and the related edges 74, 7S and 7% of members 62 produces passages or grooves 30, 82, 34, 86, 88, 90 and 92. It will be noted that passages 80, 82 and 84, as a unit, are equal in length to passages 36, S8 and 99 as a unit. Passage 92 extends between the junction of passages 80 and 86 and the junction of passages 84 and 90.

Now as to the length of the passages thus formed, first consider men 94. The men may be made in any suitable manner. In the case shown, the men are illustrated as comprising three sections, an outer disk 96, an inner disk 98, and a connecting pin 100. The pin may be a part of either disk. The pin may be united with the other disk in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by cementing. In operation, it will make no difference whether disks 96 and 98 are of equal diameter. Pin 160 should be of a sufiicient dimension to fit fairly closely within grooves or passages 80, 82, 84, 86, 818, 90 and 92. It will be obvious that one effect of the diameters of disks 96 and 98, as appears in FIGS. 3 and 3A, will be that each disk will be in position to collide with the external diameter of each of the other disks. If both disks be of substantially the same diameter, then both disks will collide substantially simultaneously on both sides of plate 10. If the larger diameter is external, since engagement of the disks is visible to the player, he will be better enabled to position the men in furtherance of the play. Thus, it is more desirable that where the disks are of unequal diameters, the larger disk be externally disposed. Each of the men has a different identifying number 101 applied to a face 163 of a disk, in this case outer disk 96.

It has been found that the length of passages in a group 102, which is taken here to be the conjunction of passages 80, 82 and 84, is equal to the length of the passages in group 1%, which is the conjunction of passages 86, 88 and 90. It has been found necessary, for proper play, that groups 162 and 104 be of substantially equal length. It has also been found that each individual group 1B2 or group 164 be of a length sufficient to receive comfortably, when filled up, with the side edges of the disks in engagement, in the manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, an odd number of men. Any attempt to introduce another man will be found impossible because of the dimensional characteristics. Any additional man in a group 162 or 164 will overlap into portions of the other group because of these dimensional characteristics. In the structure of FIG. 3A, five men may be positioned in each group, but three men still continue to be the limit of the number of men in passage 82 or 88. In the instance of FIG. 3, three men are shown in passage 82 or 88, or in the joint passage comprising passages 80 and S6 or 84 and 91 Thus, the size of the structure can be changed so that each group will be of a length to receive an odd number. It has been found that utilization of an even number in each group will not function properly.

Passage 92, on the other hand, is capable of receiving one man without overlapping the other passages, and two men, with the side edges of the disks in engagement with each other, overlapping the laterally extending passages. Considering a circuit 106 as comprising passages St), 82, 84 and 92, it will be found that if more than four men are disposed in such a circuit in the structure of FIG. 3, or six men, in the structure of FIG. 3A, the men cannot circulate, that is, they cannot be moved by consecutively moving a man along that circuit until it collides with another and then repeating this manipulation consecutively with the other men. The same would apply to a circuit 108 which would consist of passages 86, 88, 9t) and 92. However, when the number of men disposed in a circuit 166 or 108, in FIG 3, is equal to four, or equal to six in FIG. 3A, it is easy to circulate the men in those circuits.

It thus becomes a game of skill to determine how to move the men into the respective passages so as to be able to interchange from one circuit to another. It should be obvious that the outer circuit 11%), consisting v of passages 80, 82, 84, 86, 38 and 90, may receive all apices, also function to restrict the freedom of movement of the men through the passages. Thus factors are introduced to present problems to the player in attempting to solve the problem of the game.

In order to place the men in the circuits, 2. slot 34 has been provided. Cut-out 36 is deep enough so that, when plates 10 and 12 are assembled, an opening 112 appears in an area between ribs 56 and S8. A piece 114 is formed, by molding plastic or any other material, so as to provide a handle section 116 which has an upstanding rib 118 to coincide with boundary projection 19. Piece 114 also has a bottom plate 120 dimensioned to pass through cut-out 36 and fit snugly up against bottom face 76 at slot 34, when strap 122, formed with bottom plate 120, coincides with slot 34.

Thus, by pushing piece 114 into association with slot 34, so that plate 120 nests under the thickness of plate 10, with strap 122 positioned in slot 34, passage of the men out of the circuit is prevented. By merely sliding piece 114 outwardly from the assembly, men 94 may be inserted or removed, pin of the men riding through slot 34, disk 98 riding beneath plate 10, and disk 96,

appearing on top of top face 21, sliding over that face and out through the gap in wall 16.

Embossed into plate may be a series of numbers 124. One of the numbers may be carried on piece 114. This sequence of numbers thus permanently provides the solution for which the player must strive. After a solution is obtained, it is necessary only to remove piece 114 and remove and reinsert men 94 so as to disarrange them and set them up for a new try at a solution.

Many other changes could be effected in the particular constructions, and in the methods of use and construction, and in specific details thereof, hereinbefore set forth, Without substantially departing from the invention intended to be defined herein, the specific description being merely of embodiments capable of illustrating certain principles of the invention.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A game comprising a base having a plurality of passages, a plurality of men movable in the passages, at least two of the passages being of equal length and being dimensioned so that three and only three of the men may be disposed in each of such equal length passages, a single intermediate passage positioned between the equal length passages, the intermediate passage being less in length than the equal length passages, the equal length passages being spaced from each other so that men in the intermediate passage may be moved therealong and just barely clear men moving in the equal length passages, and passages connecting the intermediate passage with the equal length passages.

2. A game comprising a single, substantially continuous passage, a plurality of men of equal diameters positioned and movable in the passage, a by-pass intersecting and connecting with the passage at a pair of spaced apart points, the passage being divided by the points of intersection into two equal length sections, the length of the passage being slightly in excess of a multiple of the diameter of one of the men by a number determined by twice an even number, but such excess being less than the diameter of one of the men, the length of the by-pass being greater than twice the diameter of one of the men but being less than three times the diameter of one of the men.

3. A game comprising a plurality of passages, a plurality of men of equal diameters movable in the passages, at least two of the passages being of equal length and being dimensioned so that three and only three of the men may be disposed in each of such equal length passages, a single intermediate passage positioned between the equal length passages, the intermediate passage being of a length to receive two men but not three men, the equal length passages being spaced from each other so that men in the intermediate passage may be moved therealong and just barely clear men moving in the equal length passages, and passages connecting the intermediate passage with the equal length passages.

4. A game comprising a plurality of passages, a plurality of men of equal diameters movable in the passages, at least two of the passages being of equal length and being dimensioned so that three and only three of the men may be disposed in each of such equal length passages, a single intermediate passage positioned between the equal length passages, the intermediate passage being of a length to receive two men but not three men, the equal length passages being spaced from each other so that men in the intermediate passage may be moved therealong without being interfered with by men moving in the equal length passages, and passages connecting the intermediate passage with the equal length passages.

5. A game comprising a single, substantially continuous passage, a plurality of men of equal diameters positioned and movable in the passage, a by-pass intersecting and connecting with the passage at a pair of spaced apart points, the passage being divided by the points of intersection into two equal length sections, each of the sec- 6 tions and the bypass providing a circuit, each circuit being capable of receiving an odd number of men but the men then being incapable of being moved in that circuit, the number of men capable of being moved in a circuit being equal to said odd number less one, the total number of men in the passage and the by-pass being one man less than twice said number of men capable of movement in a circuit, the length of the passage being slightly in excess of a multiple of the diameter of one of the men by a number determined by twice an even number but such excess being less than the diameter of one of the men, the length of the by-pass being greater than twice the diameter of one of the men but being less than three times the diameter of one of the men.

6. A game comprising a single, substantially continuous passage, a plurality of men of equal diameters positioned and movable in the passage, a by-pass intersecting and connecting with the passage at a pair of spaced apart points, the passage being divided by the points of intersection into two equal length sections, each of the sections and the by-pass providing a circuit, each circuit being capable of receiving an odd number of men but the men then being incapable of being moved in that circuit, the number of men capable of being moved in a circuit being equal to said odd number less one, the total number of men in the passage and the by-pass being one man less than twice said number of men capable of movement in a circuit, the length of the by-pass being greater than twice the diameter of one of the men but being less than three times the diameter of one of the men.

7. A game comprising a single, substantially continuous passage, a plurality of men positioned and movable in the passage, a by-pass intersecting and connecting with the passage at a pair of spaced apart points, the passage being divided by the points of intersection into two equal length sections, each of the sections and the by-pass providing a circuit, each circuit being capable of receiving an odd number of men but the men then being incapable of being moved in that circuit, the number of men capable of being moved in a circuit being equal to said odd number less one, the total number of men in the passage and the by-pass being one man less than twice said number of men capable of movement in a circuit.

8. A game comprising a base having a plurality of passages, a plurality of men movable in the passages, each of the passages being of equal length and being in direct communication with each other at their ends, a by-pass extending across between points of direct communication of the passages with each other, each of the passages comprising a plurality of angularly related sections, one of the sections being dimensioned so that three and only three of the men may be disposed therein, the by-pass being less in length than said one section.

9. A game comprising a base having a plurality of slots, a plurality of men each comprising at least one disc and a stem, the stems being fitted into and being dimensioned to be slidable along the slots, at least two of the slots being of equal length and being dimensioned with respect to the diameter of the discs so that three and only three of the men may be disposed in each of such equal length slots, an intermediate slot positioned between the equal length slots, the intermediate slot being less in length than the equal length slots, the intermediate slot being spaced With relation to the equal length slots so that the discs of men in the intermediate slot may be moved and just barely clear the discs of men moving along the other slots, and slots connecting the intermediate slot with the equal length slots.

10. A game comprising a small thickness sheet having a plurality of slots extending therethrough, a plurality of men each comprising a pair of discs connected by a stem, the stems being fitted into and extending through and being dimensioned to be slidable along the slots with the discs on opposite sides of the sheet, at least two of the slots being of equal length and being dimensioned with respect to the diameter of the discs so that three and only three of the men may be disposed in each of such equal length slots, an intermediate slot positioned between the equal length slots, the intermediate slot being less in length than the equal length slots, the intermediate slot being spaced With relation to the equal length slots so that the discs of men in the intermediate slot may be moved and just barely clear the discs of men moving along the other slots, and slots connecting the intermediate slot with the equal length slots.

11. A game comprising a single, substantially continuous track forming a single continuous circuit, a plurality of pieces for movement along the track, the pieces being all of the same dimensions and being dimensioned to fit together with and be guided by the track, the track having a pair of substantially parallel equal length portions, a by-pass intersecting and communicating with the track at a pair of points, the points of intersection dividing the track into equal length sections, each of the sections including one of the portions, and the by-pass being parallel to the portions, the track being of a length to receive an even number of the pieces, said game having a number of pieces assembled in the track and by-pass equal to said even number less one.

12. A game comprising a single, substantially continu ous track forming a single continuous circuit, a plurality of pieces for movement along the track, the pieces being all of the same dimensions and being dimensioned to fit together With and be guided by the track, the track having a pair of substantially parallel equal length portions, a by-pass intersecting and communicating with the track at a pair of points, the points of intersection dividing the track into equal length sections, each of the sections ineluding one of the portions, and the by-pass being parallel to the portions, the track being of a length to receive an even number of the pieces, said game having a number of pieces assembled in the track and by-pass equal to said even number less one, each equal length portion being capable of receiving three and three only of the pieces, but the by-pass being shorter than either of the portions.

13. A game comprising a single, substantially continuous track forming a single continuous circuit, a plurality of pieces for movement along the track, the pieces being all of the same dimensions and being dimensioned to fit together wi h and he guided by the track, the track having a pair of substantially parallel equal length portions, a bypass intersecting and communicating with the track at a pair of points, the points of intersection dividing the track into equal length sections, each of the sections including one of the portions, and the by-pass being parallel to the portions, the track being of a length to receive an even number of the pieces, said game having a number of pieces assembled in the track and by-pass equal to said even number less one, each equal length portion being capable of receiving three and three only of the pieces, but the by-pass being shorter than either of the portions, and the portions each being spaced from the by-pass so that pieces positioned in the portions and the by-pass may just clear each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 422,388 Flanagan Mar. 4, 1890 782,594 Brown Feb. 14, 1905 2,462,502 Horwitz Feb. 22, 1949 2,564,502 Radford Aug. 14, 1951 

1. A GAME COMPRISING A BASE HAVING A PLURALITY OF PASSAGES, A PLURALITY OF MEN MOVABLE IN THE PASSAGES, AT LEAST TWO OF THE PASSAGE BEING OF EQUAL LENGTH AND BEING DIMENSIONED SO THAT THREE AND ONLY THREE OF THE MEN MAY BE DISPOSED IN EACH OF SUCH EQUAL LENGTH PASSAGES, A SINGLE INTERMEDIATE PASSAGE POSITIONED BETWEEN THE EQUAL LENGTH PASSAGE, THE INTERMEDIATE PASSAGE BEING LESS IN LENGTH THAN THE EQUAL LENGTH PASSAGES, THE EQUAL LENGTH PASSAGES BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER SO THAT MEN IN THE INTERMEDIATE PASSAGE MAY BE MOVED THEREALONG AND JUST BARELY CLEAR MEN MOVING IN THE EQUAL LENGTH PASSAGES, AND PASSAGES CONNECTING THE INTERMEDIATE PASSAGE WITH THE EQUAL LENGTH PASSAGES. 